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Model Letter to the editor for Darwin Day 2009
YOUR
LETTERHEAD HERE
Editor,
February
12, 2009 is the 200th birthday of Charles Darwin – the
year also marks the 150th anniversary of the publication
of his work, The Origin of Species by Natural Selection, and I
encourage your readers to celebrate Darwin Day 2009. The theory of
evolution by natural selection, as first articulated by Darwin and
subsequently observed, verified, and tested by generations of
biologists, is the foundation of our understanding of the complexity
and diversity of life on earth. It explains how life evolved from
single-celled organisms to include all the various forms of life we
see around us today – not just single-celled bacteria but also
complex, multi-cellular, sexually reproducing organisms. Modern
biology, and indeed, modern life, rests on a foundation of
evolutionary theory. Genetics has provided profound evidence of the
mechanism underlying natural selection, and further evidence for
evolution can be found in antibiotic resistant bacteria (literally
bacteria populations that have evolved to resist the effects of
anti-bacterial drugs, aka antibiotics) and the increasingly complete
fossil record. Despite
the overwhelming evidence for evolution and its power as a
theoretical framework to unite the diverse and complex enterprise we
call modern biology, it remains controversial in our society. The
recent battle around science standards in Texas highlights this
point. For ideological reasons, frequently based on fundamentalist
religious principles and a literal reading of the Bible, political
forces have repeatedly attempted to subvert or prevent the teaching
of evolution in our public schools. There is broad public
misunderstanding of evolution and Darwin’s brilliant contribution
to our understanding of the world. Attempts to insert “disclaimers,”
insist on teaching the “strengths and weakness” of evolutionary
theory, or the requirement that textbooks and course curriculum label
evolution by natural selection as a “controversial theory” are
unscientific and intended to create doubt among students when none
exists among scientists regarding the fundamental truth and
correctness of the theory of evolution. These efforts, whatever
their intention, ultimately lead to a rejection of the scientific
method as the primary means by which people investigate and
understand the world we live in because they reject both the evidence
for evolution, and the process by which scientists have verified it. I
urge you, the editor, to publicize and support Darwin Day 2009
[insert information about local events] and your readers to
participate in the international celebration of the work of one of
the great intellectual giants of all time – Charles Darwin.
We welcome more
comments. Email
us your comments.
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You can sign the Statement on this
website. Just click here to add your name to
the growing list.
Join in the battle to defend
science!
Scientists and Members of the Scientific Community:
• Sign and Circulate This Statement.
• Help Raise Funds to Have it Printed in Newspapers Across the Country,
and Internationally.
• Get This Statement Adopted by Scientific, Educational and Other
Associations and Institutions.
Members of the General Public:
• Reprint and Circulate This
Statement, Help Spread the Word, Contribute Your Ideas About How to
Wage This Crucial Battle & Join With People in the Scientific
Community and Others to Wage This Battle.
• Help raise funds to print the Statement in as many newspapers and
journals as possible, in the U.S. and internationally.
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